Skilled Nursing Facilities

Improve long-term patient outcomes with focused care and reduced rates of infection

Reduction in the amount of prescribed medication often leads to optimal clinical outcomes and helps ensure that patients are not hospitalized longer than needed.

Skilled nursing facilities are graded on patient outcome results and antibiotic overuse can lead to organ failure requiring prolonged hospitalization and overall poor outcome. In addition, facilities are often left to pay for medical expenses as a result of medical conditions acquired at the facility.

The Arkstone Antimicrobial Stewardship Program helps minimize toxicity and other adverse events such as renal failure, bone marrow suppression & hepatotoxicity.

Reduce overall drug expenditures
Reduce secondary drug costs such as IV lines and bags, and PICC or central line care
Reduce secondary infections, such as C-diff
Reduce readmissions by decreasing drug toxicity and adverse reactions
Reduce the duration of patient stays

Prevent future Medicare and Medicaid deductions
Control infection, reduce the need for isolation protocols, and increase room availability
Control outbreaks which raise the risk of admission freezes
Increase patient admittance rates by identifying cost savings of potential patients before they are admitted

Regulatory Compliance

An ASP is required and advocated by CMS (Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services), Joint Commission, CDC (Center for Disease Control), SHEA (Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America), IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America) and WHO (World Health Organization).

The federal government now includes the spread of antibiotic-resistant organisms in assessing penalties. This year alone, Medicare has cut payments to over 800 hospitals due to high rates of infections and patient injuries. In 2019, 110 hospitals were penalized for the fifth straight year. According to an estimate from the Association of American Medical Colleges, hospitals will lose close to $566 million in total, representing an annual increase of 31.63%,

Monthly Reports

Our monthly report contains valuable information regarding infection rates in the SNF and includes a breakdown of the types of infections and whether resistant genes were detected. These reports contain our unique ArkScore™, rating the overall antimicrobial resistance levels detected at the facility. Specific recommendations pertaining to these infections are given including interactive feedback, infection control measures, and quality improvement actions.

Education is also emphasized along with specific key points regarding each pathogen. Relevant monthly newsletters are also included providing the latest information in a simple, clear and clinically-applicable presentation.